Facsimile machine for use in combination with PC

Abstract

In a facsimile machine for used in combination with a personal computer, when incoming image data from a remote facsimile machine cannot be printed simultaneously with receipt of the data and a RAM of the facsimile machine does not have a sufficient storage capacity to store the data, the personal computer plays a role of a data receiving end for the incoming image data. When the RAM of the facsimile machine has a space to store the incoming image data, it is stored therein provided that simultaneous printing of the image data is impossible. When the storage capacity of the RAM is reduced to less than a predetermined minimum in the process of storing operation and the entire image data cannot be stored in the RAM, then the remaining part of the image data is sent to the personal computer and stored in its associated hard disk.

We claim: 
     
       1. A facsimile system comprising: a facsimile machine having an input/output interface and a first storage device, said facsimile machine receiving data from a data communicating machine when a telephone link is established between said facsimile machine and said data communicating device;   a data processing device connected to said input/output interface of said facsimile machine, said data processing device having a second data storage device;   detection means for detecting a residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device and said second storage device and outputting a first detection signal indicative of the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device and a second detection signal indicative of the residual amount of storage capacity in said second storage device;   selection means for selecting one of said first storage device and said second storage device in response to at least one of the first detection signal and the second detection signal; and   control means for storing the data in the selected one of said first storage device and said second storage device;   wherein when said first detection signal first indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device is greater than a predetermined minimum, said selection means selects said first storage device, and thereafter when said first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device has become less than the predetermined minimum after storing a part of the data in said first storage device, said selection means selects said second storage device so that said control means stores a remaining part of the data in said second storage device.   
     
     
       2. The facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein when said first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device is less than a predetermined minimum, said selection means selects said second storage device so that said control means stores at least a part of the data in said second storage device. 
     
     
       3. The facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein when said first detection signal first indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device is greater than a predetermined minimum, said selection means selects said first storage device, and thereafter when said first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device has become less than the predetermined minimum after storing a part of the data in said first storage device, said selection means selects said second storage device so that said control means stores a remaining part of the data in said second storage device. 
     
     
       4. The facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein when said first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device is greater than a predetermined minimum, said selection means selects said first storage device so that said control means stores at least a part of the data in said first storage device. 
     
     
       5. The facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein said facsimile machine further includes a first display for displaying a message informing an operator of non-availability of said first data storage device when said first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device has become less than a first predetermined minimum, and wherein said data processing device further includes a second display for displaying a message informing the operator of non-availability of said second storage device when said second detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said second storage device has become less than a second predetermined minimum. 
     
     
       6. A facsimile system comprising: a facsimile machine having an input/output interface and a first storage device, and a printing section, said facsimile machine receiving data from a data communicating machine when a telephone link is established between said facsimile machine and said data communicating device;   a data processing device connected to said input/output interface of said facsimile machine, said data processing device having a second data storage device;   first detection means for detecting a residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device and said second storage device and outputting a first detection signal indicative of the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device and a second detection signal indicative of the residual amount of storage capacity in said second storage device;   second detection means for detecting a status of said printing section and outputting a printer status signal;   selection means for selecting one of said first storage device and said second storage device in response to at least one of the first detection signal and the second detection signal; and   control means for storing the data in the selected one of said first storage device and said second storage device when the printer status detection signal indicates that said printing section is in an inoperable condition.   
     
     
       7. The facsimile system according to claim 6, wherein when said first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device is less than a predetermined minimum, said selection means selects said second storage device so that said control means stores at least a part of the data in said second storage device. 
     
     
       8. The facsimile system according to claim 7, wherein when the printer status detection signal indicates that said printing section has been placed in an operable condition after the data is stored in said second storage device, said control means receives the data from said second storage device and controls said printing section to carry out printing based on the data received therefrom. 
     
     
       9. The facsimile system according to claim 7, wherein when said first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device has become greater than the predetermined minimum after the data is stored in said second storage device, said control means transfers the data stored in said second storage device to said first storage device. 
     
     
       10. The facsimile system according to claim 7, wherein said data processing device further includes a printing section and wherein said control means controls said data processing device to carry out printing of the data stored in said second storage device with said printing section of said data processing device. 
     
     
       11. The facsimile system according to claim 7, wherein when the data stored in said second storage device is scheduled to be transferred to another data communicating device, said data processing device transfers the data to said another data communicating device when a telephone link is established between said facsimile machine and said another data communicating device. 
     
     
       12. The facsimile system according to claim 6, wherein when said first detection signal first indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device is greater than a predetermined minimum, said selection means selects said first storage device, and thereafter when said first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device has become less than the predetermined minimum after storing a part of the data in said first storage device, said selection means selects said second storage device so that said control means stores a remaining part of the data in said second storage device. 
     
     
       13. The facsimile system according to claim 12, wherein when the printer status detection signal indicates that said printing section is placed in the operable condition, said control means receives the data from said second storage device and controls said printing section to carry out printing based on the data received therefrom. 
     
     
       14. The facsimile system according to claim 12, wherein when said first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device has become greater than the predetermined minimum, said control means transfers the data stored in said second storage device to said first storage device. 
     
     
       15. The facsimile system according to claim 6, wherein when said first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device is greater than a predetermined minimum, said selection means selects said first storage device so that said control means stores at least a part of the data in said first storage device. 
     
     
       16. The facsimile system according to claim 6, wherein said facsimile machine further includes a first display for displaying a message informing an operator of non-availability of said first data storage device when said first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device has become less than a first predetermined minimum, and wherein said data processing device further includes a second display for displaying a message informing the operator of non-availability of said second storage device when said second detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said second storage device has become less than a second predetermined minimum. 
     
     
       17. The facsimile system according to claim 6, wherein in response to a call from said data communicating machine, said control means controls said printing section to be a printable condition when said printer status detection signal indicates that said printing section is in the inoperable condition. 
     
     
       18. The facsimile system according to claim 17, wherein said printing section has a power consumption saving mode wherein said printing section is placed in the inoperable condition, and wherein in response to the call from said data communicating machine, said control means cancels the power consumption saving mode so that said printing section is brought into the printable condition, and after said control means finds that said printing section is in the printable condition, said control means controls said printing section toothier data communicating device. 
     
     
       19. The facsimile system according to claim 17, wherein said control means controls said printing section to become the power consumption saving mode when said printing section has been in the inoperable condition for more than a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       20. The facsimile system according to claim 6, wherein when the first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device is not sufficient to store an on-demand data that is scheduled to be output to a specified data communicating machine when said specified data communicating machine accesses said facsimile machine, said selection means selects said second storage device so that said control means stores the on-demand data in the second storage device, wherein said control means transfers the on-demand data stored in said second storage device to said first storage device when the first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device is recovered to an extent capable of storing the on-demand data, and wherein said data processing device transfers the on-demand data stored in said second storage device to said specified data communicating device when said specified data communicating device accesses said facsimile machine. 
     
     
       21. A facsimile machine for use with a data processing device that includes a second data storage device, the facsimile machine receiving data from a data communicating machine when a telephone link is established between the facsimile machine and the data communicating device, the facsimile machine including: a first storage device;   an input/output interface connected to the data processing device;   detection means for detecting a residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device and said second storage device and outputting a first detection signal indicative of the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device and a second detection signal indicative of the residual amount of storage capacity in said second storage device;   selection means for selecting one of said first storage device and said second storage device in response to at least one of the first detection signal and the second detection signal; and   control means for storing the data in the selected one of said first storage device and said second storage device;   wherein when said first detection signal first indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device is greater than a predetermined minimum, said selection means selects said first storage device, and thereafter when said first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device has become less than the predetermined minimum after storing a part of the data in said first storage device, said selection means selects said second storage device so that said control means stores a remaining part of the data in said second storage device.   
     
     
       22. The facsimile machine according to claim 21, wherein when said first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device is less than a predetermined minimum, said selection means selects said second storage device so that said control means stores at least a part of the data in said second storage device. 
     
     
       23. The facsimile machine according to claim 21, wherein when said first detection signal first indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device is greater than a predetermined minimum, said selection means selects said first storage device, and thereafter when said first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device has become less than the predetermined minimum after storing a part of the data in said first storage device, said selection means selects said second storage device so that said control means stores a remaining part of the data in said second storage device. 
     
     
       24. The facsimile machine according to claim 21, wherein when said first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device is greater than a predetermined minimum, said selection means selects said first storage device so that said control means stores at least a part of the data in said first storage device. 
     
     
       25. The facsimile machine according to claim 21, wherein said facsimile machine further includes a first display for displaying a message informing an operator of non-availability of said first data storage device when said first detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said first storage device has become less than a first predetermined minimum, and wherein said data processing device further includes a second display for displaying a message informing the operator of non-availability of said second storage device when said second detection signal indicates that the residual amount of storage capacity in said second storage device has become less than a second predetermined minimum.